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Interview with Like A Storm

On the road and around the globe the
band Like A Storm has been scratching the metal itch and sanctifying
the metal rock sound since their inception in 2005. Hailing from the
land of Kiwis, New Zealand directed brothers Chris, Matt, and Kent
Brook along with Zach Woods took a few moments out of their heavy
schedule to chat with me.

Like
A Storm is best known for combining heavy baritone riffs and hard
rock songs with a Didgeridoo.
They have shared American & European stages with Alter
Bridge, Korn, Shinedown, Black
Veil Brides, Creed, Puddle
of Mudd, Staind, Sick
Puppies,
and
many others, as well as touring North America extensively as a
headline act. Like a Storm are the highest charting New Zealand hard
rock band in American radio history. Creating so much original metal
along the way, and slated to begin this year they will be begin
recording new material.

Song
River: Is it true that you are New Zealand's highest American radio
chart hitters?

Matt
Brooks: Thanks for chatting with me! Yeah, amazingly, it is true.
With our latest singles “Love The Way You Hate Me”, “Wish You
Hell”, and “Become The Enemy”, we have become the highest
charting New Zealand hard rock band in American radio history. It’s
a real honor!

SR:
Metal Hammer magazine stated that Like A Storm is rewriting the
rulebook of metal. How would you describe metal... and your approach
to create what is uniquely and identifiable as Like A Storm.

Matt
Brooks: It was amazing to get that kind of validation from an iconic
magazine like Metal Hammer. Especially because we have always tried
to push the envelope and create our own sound, which is what
ultimately lead us to incorporate the didgeridoo into our music.

There
are so many different interpretations of what is truly “metal”.
But to me personally, metal will always be about that powerful
combination of heavy, aggressive music with dark, epic lyrics. From
Sabbath to Metallica to Gojira… You just can’t beat it!

SR:
On the opening to the video “Wish You Hell” of you latest album,
Awaken The Fire,
the words “We are punished not for our sins... but by them.”
Lyrically and visually this song sounds like a personal story.

Matt
Brooks: You could definitely say that! (laughs) Unfortunately, there
are those people who walk into your life and bring you nothing but
trouble. So “Wish You Hell” is a ‘goodbye & good riddance’
to those people who try to screw you over… The main idea being that
sooner or later they will get what they deserve.

We
felt like that lyrical message would really fit with a voodoo-themed
music video, which made for a very cool and creepy video with live
tarantulas, snakes, & all kinds of voodoo imagery.

SR:
There seems to be a similarity I've come to notice in bands sound
coming out of New Zealand, have you ever checked out Gin Wigmore?
It's a sound that seems to really be unique to your area of the
world- and it's killer. The sound almost seems to have become a
trademark bit from NZ... at least an identifiable mark. It is a sound
that tells a story, makes the listener visualize what is being
instrumentally painted and completed in lyrics.

Matt
Brooks: Thanks so much! I think all New Zealanders always grow up
with that ‘Do-It-Yourself’ attitude, which is a big part of the
culture of our country. That attitude really lends itself to being
creative and wanting to find your own voice as an artist. Even though
we are very different from Gin stylistically, I think being Kiwis we
probably both have the same approach to our music.

SR:
The number, “Break Free” takes the softer side of rock and
melodies as it seems to be the identifiable track to your fans.
Replay... replay... replay...

Matt
Brooks: We have always been fans of bands who were really versatile -
a band like Metallica is a great example - who could play heavy,
anthemic music, and then play these incredibly melodic songs as well.
“Break Free” is one of those songs - where the vocals and the
lyrics really become the focus. We also really wanted the music to
reflect those same emotions… To create a soundscape that was
haunting, ethereal, bittersweet.

Lyrically
the song is very personal, and was written during a pretty dark time
for us a band and as individuals. So it’s really symbolic that
“Break Free” is now getting played on the radio all over America.
And it’s even more amazing to see all our incredible fans who have
the song’s lyrics tattooed on them!

SR:
Chris Brooks - as lead vocalist what have you found to be some of the
greatest challenges when performing and touring?

Chris
Brooks: The greatest challenge is definitely keeping my voice in good
shape when I’m up there screaming every night (laughs). I always
get so caught up in the music and the show, that I end up giving it
my all every night. Even though I probably should be holding back a
little, I just can’t help it! (laughed).

We
have radio most days on tour, and I like to talk with fans as often
as I can after shows, so I have to be mindful of how much I use my
voice offstage. Especially on a long tour!

The
other thing I find challenging is getting my voice to work if we play
early in the day, which often happens on the huge summer festivals. I
absolutely love playing those festivals, but I’m about as far from
being a morning person as you could get, so it always takes a while
to get my voice ready.

Strangely
I find beer helps (laughed) even though I’m sure it's not a remedy
any medical professionals would endorse.

SR:
As I understand it, Chris, you are the one who plays the didgeridoo
in the band. Under who did you learn, and do you take an
authentic didgeridoo with you on the road- do you have a favorite key
to play?

Chris
Brooks: I actually taught myself to play the Didgeridoo, which is
kinda crazy. My Grandparents used to live in Australia, so we would
visit them a lot growing up and we’d always see people busking in
the street playing Didgeridoos. It had such a huge effect on me and I
was just hypnotized by what I consider to be the most unique and dark
sounding instrument I’ve ever heard.

A
friend of mine actually bought me my first Didgeridoo, and I just
locked myself in my room and didn’t emerge until I could play it.
I’m a pretty determined person so it was literally all I did for a
couple of days until I got the circular breathing down (laughed).

When
I first started touring I used to bring out a traditional Didge with
me, but I found out pretty quickly that they don’t like life in a
touring rock band (laughed). I think the very first time I pulled it
out at a show the wax was already absolutely destroyed and the wood
was scratched up pretty bad. So I had to try and rebuild the wax
mouthpiece backstage. The process involves heating up the wax until
it melts, and molding it into the desired shape- its pretty time
consuming and is definitely not the thing you want to be doing
backstage at a venue.

So
I started making my own Didges out of PVC pipe which are basically
indestructible! Its cool because it gives them a slightly different
sound than the traditional Wooden ones, and this way I can have all
the Didges cut to the key of different songs. We play Baritone
guitars, so we’re in pretty low tunings live. As result I tend to
play Didges in far lower keys than I’ve ever heard them anyone else
use them in, which is cool! The lowest is in A# - which sounds so
heavy!

SR:
As brothers Chris, Matt, and Kent you share many of the same
instruments from guitars, keys, programming... did you all grow up in
a household of music/bands/experimentation with instruments?

Matt
Brooks: Our parents were big fans of music, and they both played
instruments themselves - so we grew up with a lot of music in the
house. Kent, Chris and I all started learning piano when we were
kids, but once we hit the teenage years we got totally hooked on rock
and metal. We just started playing any instrument we could get
our hands on - drums, guitar, bass, keys, even the Didgeridoo!

SR:
Drummer Zach Wood is certainly one of the most outstanding drummers
of our time. His beat is the head banging driving foundational
support to the sound. What drum brand do you prefer Zach?

Zach
Wood: My favorite drum brand is hands down DW and its subsidiary PDP.
They make such incredible drums. I've been fortunate enough to go to
the DW factory and see first hand how much time and care goes into
making them. And it's all done by hand. On tour I use a PDP and at
home I have a DW.

SR:
Who are some the great drummers you have come to admire and your
drumming again brings the unique sound full circle to LAS... where
did you develop your signature from?

Zach
Wood: When I'm asked who my drumming influences are 2 names come to
mind immediately. Shannon Larkin of Godsmack and Scott Phillips of
Alter Bridge. Shannon Larkin is by far the most entertaining drummer
to watch. He uses such power and force behind his beats and does all
these amazing tricks while playing, making it look like a walk in the
park for him ! It's very impressive. And then there's Scott Phillips.
His drum beats and wrist work is phenomenal. He plays such intricate
fills and grooves. I love his style and the way he can make drums
stand out so much in the AB Albums. It's just as complicated as Mark
Tremonti's guitar playing.

Having
said that I really aspire to hit hard and have interesting drum moves
like Shannon, and play with cool grooves and technique that Scott
Phillips has. Those 2 guys are some of the best drummers out there
and some of the nicest people too anyone who is practicing
drums should look them up!

As
a percussionist how do you personally take care of your upper
body/arms/elbows/wrists as you tour?

Zach
Wood: When I'm on the road it is important to keep your arms and
wrists in good condition since you are using them nonstop for hour
everyday! You want to keep them conditioned and healthy. I try to go
to the gym everyday I have a day off to keep your body and arms in
shape and to build endurance. Obviously being on tour there are not
always a lot of days off. So on the bus I use those elastic
resistance bands and work out your arms once a day when you wake up
and before you go to bed. It's really makes a huge difference!

SR:
There isn't anything that could say LAS is just another metal/hard
rock band. Yet, with the compilation release in 2015... you pulled
and put together songs from 2010 to 2016 when can your fans expect a
brand new album?

Matt
Brooks: We are always writing, even when we’re out on tour. With
all the shows you play and all the people you meet, there is just so
much to be inspired by. So we have a lot of new songs that we’re
really excited about, and our fans can look forward to hearing it
very soon!

SR:
You've included a defining softer side to this latest album in
bringing back your 2013 song, “Southern Skies.” How often do you
all get to go back home and when you do, what is the first thing you
all reach for? (Can be food, a loved one, a pet, a drink, a special
place to just be alone).

Matt
Brooks: We’re very lucky to have become as busy as we are touring -
but the only downside is that we don’t get to go home to New
Zealand as often now. “Southern Skies” is about home, about being
being away from that home, and everything that that place and those
people mean to you.

But
we get home once a year, and the first thing I reach for is my
favorite Kiwi beer - Steinlager Pure. That’s the taste of home to
me!

SR:
Music is the life blood and Like A
Storm has taken that force to create
a high. What is next after this north American tour?

Matt
Brooks: Thank you… Music is certainly our life and we feel very
lucky to get to play it every night! We’ll be out on the road in
the US until August, and we’d love to try and get back to see our
friends in the UK & Europe again this year.

The
other big news for 2016 is that we’ll start recording these new
songs… We can’t wait to share them with our fans and start
playing them live!

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